THE DESIGN CYCLE
DESIGN FOLDER

Approaches to Learning: Human Ingenuity
Unit Questions: How is the Design Cycle important to the successful outcome of a project?
STEP 1: INVESTIGATE
a. Identify the Problem:
1. How does the Design Cycle apply to your project, life, and society?
a. Project: The design cycle will help us come up with a better project.
b. Life (Think future jobs): It'll help us be organized through our goals and help any problems in any kind of job.
c. Society: Better designed infrastructures will enhance the quality of life.
2. Identify the problem:
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newdesigncycle.gif


b. Develop the Design Brief:
3. What is a Rube Goldberg?
  • A series of chain reactions to accomplish a certain task.
4. What supplies do you have?
  • String.
  • Boxes.
  • Cups.
  • Straws.
  • Cogs.
  • Gears and cogs.
  • PVC piping.
  • Popcicle sticks.
  • Geometry objects.
  • Metal plates.
  • Gun shaped palette.
  • Styrofoam.
  • Plastic bags.
  • Ping pong ball.
5. What supplies do you need?
  • Duct tape.
  • Glue.
  • More PVC piping.
c. Formulate a Design Specification - The Design Brief Continued:
6. List all the requirements you must meet to create the Rube Goldberg Machine:
7. Add two of your own requirements: (You need to make sure you meet these requirements!)
  • Have a length of 1 yard.
  • Last 30 seconds.
8. How many times will you test your machine before the final test?
  • Over 9000, very likely.
9. Why is it important to test your machine before the final day?
  • To work out any minor kinks and also to make sure it works.
10. How does making a Rube Goldberg Machine apply to a real world situation?
  • It helps us in the process of coming up with a system.
STEP 2: PLAN
a. Design a Product or Solution:
11. Create three completely different designs: Please fill out this chart
external image pdf.png
external image pdf.png

external image pdf.png
IB Brainstorming Chart .pdf and hand the paper in the basket when you are finished with all of Step 2 (all of the Plan section).

b. Plan a Product or Solution:
12. Which design do you think will work best?
13. Why did you choose this design?
On the back of your Brainstorming Chart, sketch your design and the parts you need to complete your Rube Goldberg. Don't forget you can bring two items from home per group.
14. List the steps to create your design: (You need to create your own steps and organize your time and resources. Each day you should have a list of things you need to accomplish in order to get done by the due date.)


STEP 3: CREATE
a. Use Appropriate Techniques and Equipment:
15. List three safety tips you need to follow to while creating your machine:
b. Follow the Plan:
16. Did you follow your plan?
17. Did you create steps that were easy to follow?
18. Did you follow my requirements? Look at the requirements, and put an "x" by all the requirements you met.
19. Did you follow your requirements? Look at the requirements, and put an "x" by the requirements you met.
c. Create the Product/Solution:
20. What areas of your did you need to troubleshoot?
21. Were you able to troubleshoot effectively? Explain:
STEP 4: EVALUATE
a. Evaluate the Product/Solution:
22. Was your design successful?
23. Did you test your machine before the final day? How many times did you test it?
24. How could you improve your design?
25. What part of your design would you use again?
b. Evaluate the Use of the Design Cycle:
26. Grade yourself, using the IB Rubric, for each stage of the Design Cycle. Click here for the rubric.
27. How can the Design Cycle be used in other subject areas?
28. How is the Design Cycle important to the successful outcome of a project? (Think about the steps you took to complete this assignment, did the steps make your design better or worse? Do you understand how the Design Cycle helps you solve problems?)
29. What grade do you deserve and why?